In the face of discrimination, degradation and exclusion that has persisted for centuries, African-Americans have never faltered in remaining resilient and finding creativity. The brilliance of many Black figures in history is the reason why we have so many tools that help our everyday lives. Below, I’ve rounded up six inventions created by African-Americans that have made life 10 times better:
- The Ice Cream Scoop
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Used to scoop up one of my favorite desserts, the ice cream scoop was invented by Alfred L. Cralle in 1897. While working at a hotel in Pittsburgh, he noticed that several ice cream servers had difficulty with the dessert sticking to the spoons. As a way to fix this, he created the ice cream scoop that contained a built-in scraper, allowing for one-handed operation and smoother process.
- The Super Soaker
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Who remembers those hot, summer days as a kid when you and your friends would drench each other in a water gun fight? Chances are if you owned the ultimate Super Soaker water gun, you basically won the fight, no debate. After tinkering with his invention for seven years, Engineer Lonnie Johnson patented his device in 1990, which went on to rank annually as one of the world’s Top 20 best-selling toys and being a staple of every kid’s childhood.
- The Rolling Pin
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Thanks to inventor John W. Reed, he made flattening out your sugar cookie dough, pie crust or other pastries easier by creating the modern rolling pin in 1864. In this currently used model, the handles do not spin along with the body, giving bakers more control when flattening out their dough.
- The Portable Pencil Sharpener
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When I was little, three things primarily gave me joy: Disney Channel, my American Girl doll, and school supplies – pencil sharpeners included. Before 1897, the only option that people had to sharpen their pencils was an older, larger and heavier version of a pencil sharpener, or carving away at the wood with a knife. Inventor John Lee Love’s new take on the pencil sharpener was transportable, smaller and had a compartment that held all of the shavings.
- The Automatic Elevator
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In the early models of elevators, the doors had to be opened and closed manually by either the elevator operator or passengers. Oftentimes, this action proved hazardous, and in a few cases, fatal. After becoming concerned when a shaft door was left open while he and his daughter rode in one, Alexander Miles created a more time-efficient and automatic version of elevators in 1887. His version allowed for the doors to open and close at appropriate times.
- The Home Security System
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Nurse Marie Van Brittan Brown lived in Queens, New York all her life. For years, crime in her neighborhood had steadily increased, and police officers were often slow to respond to emergency calls. As a way to bring safety and security to her apartment, she created a closed-circuit security system in 1966. Her feature included a camera that would monitor visitors and project the images onto a television monitor. Additionally, she invented a panic button that would immediately alert the police about any impending danger.